Fence-post.



No. 794,845. PATENTED JULY 18, 1905 G. E. BLAINE.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 13.1905.

C-Q/W- MMW 16% M W Patented July 18, 1905.

PATENT FFICE.

GEORGE E. BLAINE, OF PIQUA, OHIO.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,845, dated July 18, 1905.

Application filed April 13, 1905. Serial No. 255,389-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. BLAINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Piqua, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in fence-posts.

The object of the invention is to provide a fence-post constructed from a single strip of sheet metal and having formed therein wireretaining notches with which the line-wires of the fence may be engaged and held without further securing means.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail front view of a portion of the post, showing one of the wire-retaining slots. Fig. 3 is a similar view of one side of the post. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the other side, and Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the post, taken through the upper portion of one of the wire-retaining slots.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the post, which is preferably formed of a single strip of sheet metal bent upon itself longitudinally to form a channelshaped wire-receiving portion 2, at the inner ends of which the metal is bent outwardly at an oblique angle, as at 3, then rearwardly to form the parallel rear sides 4 of the post.

In the channel-shaped wire-receiving portion of the post is formed a series of wire receiving and retaining notches 5, each consisting of a horizontally disposed slot 6, which communicates at one end with a forwardly-inclined slot 7, formed in one side of said channel-shaped portion 2, and at its opposite end with a rearwardlydnclined slot 8, formed in the opposite side of the portion 2.

The lower ends of the inclined slots 7 and 8 communicate with the inner ends of horizontal oppositely-disposed slots 9 and 10, formed in each side of the channel-shaped portion 2.

There may be any desired number of the wire-retaining notches 5 arranged in the portion 2 of the post, and the line-wires of the fence are applied thereto by first inserting the wire in the slot 6 until the same engages the inner walls of the slots 7 and 8, at which time the wire will be in a horizontal plane and diagonal to the post. The wire is then forced downwardly in the slots 7 and 8 until it reaches the bottom of the same, when it may be brought into a straight line and engaged with the slots 9 and 10.

By forming the slots of the retainingnotches as herein described the line-wires of the fence may be quickly attached to the post and when so attached and stretched will not become accidentally detached, as in order to disconnect the wires from the notches it is necessary to bend or spring the former to a position diagonal with the line of the wire to engage the lower ends of the slots 7 and 8 before the wire can be disengaged from the lower slots 9 and 10. As the line-wires are stretched taut, this will require some force so that the wire will not become accidentally disconnected from the post, but may be readily disengaged therefrom when desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The herein-described fence-post formed of a single strip of sheet metal bent longitudinally to form a forwardly-projecting vertical rib having parallel sides and a rounded front portion and parallel rear sides, said rib having a series of notches formed therein, each of said notches comprising a horizontal open slot 6 which communicates with oppositelyinclined slots 7, 8 at the terminal rear portion thereof, and the lower ends of said slots 7, 8 communicating with opposite forwardlyextending closedslots 9, 10, which serve to hold a line-wire in place, essentially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- :0 nesses.

GEORGE E. BLAINE.

Witnesses:

EUGENE JOHNSON, MARGARET M. COUGHLIN. 

